A plan to keep the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) afloat, co-sponsored by State Senator Donne E. Trotter, has passed the Illinois General Assembly. The program administered by the Department of Human Services (DHS) subsidizes community-based and home-based child care expenses for parents who work, attend school, or participate in job-training programs.

The child care program was put in jeopardy when a separate program to help families cope with poverty overran its anticipated costs. Without quick action, child care providers would not receive any state payments until July, forcing some to close their doors. Senate Bill 2450, appropriates $73.6 million to DHS to cover the cost of child care payments through the end of June. The money comes from an unused fund, so it does not unbalance the state budget.

"I have always been supportive of finding responsible ways to help provide safe, reliable child care for infants and young children,” said Trotter. “Across our state this program allows parents to hold jobs, complete educational and job training programs, and participate productively in our state’s economy.”

The legislation also frees up $151 million to help reduce the backlog of unpaid bills from Medicaid providers which currently stands at $1.5 billion. Including the federal matching funds, this step will reduce the bill backlog by $302 million.

“The bottom line is that our children are our future. We’ve got to help their parents afford child care while they go out and work,” said Trotter

The measure now goes to the governor, who is expected to sign it into law as soon as possible.

Legislation sponsored by State Senator Emil Jones III to keep the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) afloat passed the Illinois General Assembly. The program, administered by the Department of Human Services (DHS), subsidizes community-based and home-based child care expenses for parents who work, attend school, or are participating in a job-training program.

The child care program was stifled when a separate program designed to help needy families exceeded its projected costs. Without this rescue measure, child care providers would not receive any state payments until July, forcing some out of business. To stop this from happening, Senate Bill 2450 appropriates $73.6 million to DHS to cover child care payments through the end of June. The money comes from an unused fund, and does not unbalance the state budget.

"Failure to cover this program’s expenses through the end of the fiscal year will put at risk some of Illinois’ most vulnerable children and families,” said Jones. “CCAP is essential to keeping low-wage families out of critical, cyclical poverty.”

The legislation also frees up $151 million to help reduce the backlog of unpaid bills from Medicaid providers which currently stands at $1.5 billion. Including the federal matching funds, this step will reduce the bill backlog by $302 million.

“Child care providers and young people came out strong in favor of this bill and I heard them loud and clear. You just can’t argue with helping parents afford childcare while they go to work, school, or both,” said Jones.

The measure now goes to the governor, who is expected to sign it into law as soon as possible.

“Parents won't be forced to take off work to watch their kids because the state didn't pay its bills.”

—Senator Pat McGuire

Springfield – Day-care providers threatened by late state payments won support Friday, May 18 when the Illinois Senate voted 46-0 to appropriate $73.6 million to the providers. The Senate vote means monthly payments to the day-care centers, already late, should be paid before the month is out. Without today's action, centers providing day care to low-income working families would have had to wait until July to be paid.  Some providers expected to be forced to close their doors. 

Read more: McGuire supports child care funding fix

Bill also pays overdue Medicaid bills

SPRINGFIELD, IL – State Senator John Sullivan (D-Rushville) hailed the passage, with unanimous bipartisan support, of legislation restoring funding to child care providers. Because some Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) funds had to be used for greater-than-anticipated needs in the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program, the state announced this month it would not be able to pay providers until July 1.

Read more: Sullivan: Budget Measure Restores Child Care Funding

Springfield, IL— State Senator Heather Steans (D-7^th) secured passage today of a supplemental budget bill that will allow childcare providers to keep receiving payments through the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). Previously, the Department of Human Services had announced it would discontinue those subsidies, due to lack of funds, until the start of a new budget year on July 1.

“The fact that the General Assembly has considered and passed this measure in a bipartisan fashion shows what we can do when we recognize genuine needs and take responsible steps to meet them,” said Steans, who sponsored Senate Bill 2450. “I have high hopes that this bodes well for negotiations on Medicaid, pensions, and the budget.”

Read more: Steans Pushes Through Solution to Child Care Shortfall

“If a wrongful death occurs in Illinois, our prosecutors should have the jurisdiction to bring the offender to justice.” – State Senator Bill Haine

SPRINGFIELD, IL – In light of a recent court case dismissal of a man facing a 30-year prison sentence for drug-induced homicide charges, State Senator Bill Haine (D-Alton) is sponsoring legislation that would ensure criminals who provide illegal drugs to victims of overdose can be punished accordingly.

Haine’s legislation, House Bill 3499, is an initiative of Madison County State’s Attorney Thomas Gibbons who requested quick action. Since the court ruling, Haine’s staff has been working closely with Madison Country felony prosecutors to draft the bill.

Read more: Haine fights to bring reforms to Illinois’ homicide laws